GATEWOOD GALBRAITH: 1947-2012

In his autobiography, The Last Free Man in America: Meets the
Synthetic Subversion, Gatewood Galbraith described his efforts to get
the letters of recommendation he needed to take the bar exam.

As a University of Kentucky law student Galbraith had already taken
up the campaign to legalize marijuana that he carried on until his
death early Wednesday at the age of 64. He struck out when he
approached some prominent men for letters. They initially agreed to
endorse the young law student but changed course as they considered
the impact of associating with a pro-pot radical.

So Mr. Galbraith turned to an electrician and two housekeepers who
worked for the university. "We had spoken to each other almost every
day over the last three years and I valued their friendship," he wrote.

Apparently the sentiment was returned. "You're the nicest guy who
ever came through here and I think you'd make a great lawyer," he
remembered one of them saying, and the other two agreed.

Their letters were ready the next day.

The story rings true to anyone who ever saw Mr. Galbraith on the
campaign trail during his many unsuccessful attempts at public
office, including his fifth race for governor last year. He never
walked away from his beliefs to curry favor with the powers-that-be,
he was friendly to everyone, and he was often the nicest guy when the
candidates gathered.

He cared about Kentuckians, not as potential voters but as people.

Although known - and often dismissed - for his pro-marijuana stance,
Mr. Galbraith was not a one-issue candidate.

He advocated outlawing mountaintop removal mining, modernizing
Kentucky's antiquated tax system and giving high school graduates
$5,000 for books, tuition and fees for college.

He raised very little money and didn't have public relations
advisors, pollsters or party veterans to shape him into a more
electable candidate.

He was much too independent for that. But he elevated the debate when
candidates met, insisting on talking about how to solve Kentucky's
myriad problems while his well-financed opponents slung rehearsed
barbs and half-truths at each other.

We'll miss Mr. Galbraith. He was an independent thinker, a smart man
who never hesitated to tell the truth as he saw it. And he was one of
the nicest guys who ever came through here.